Labour's deputy leader and Kelston MP Carmel Sepuloni Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The coalition's charter school system is letting "cowboy organisations" try to pressure state schools into converting, Labour says.
Kelston Boys' High School says it's at the centre of an unsupported takeover by a group wanting to turn it into a charter school.
Acting principal Daniel Samuela has written to parents, saying the school does not endorse an application by Bangerz Education and Wellbeing Trust (BEWT) to convert the school on 1 January 2026.
"Our senior leaders and staff do NOT believe that becoming a charter school is in the best interests of our students or community, especially when it would involve so much change with a different staff, management and Board, along with a different philosophy and curriculum," the school said in a letter posted on social media.
The bid is a joint application with Siaosi Gavet, a former presiding member of the school's board.
In its application, the trust said a change to a charter school would solve a continuing fall in education attainment and Ministry of Education intervention "has been ineffective".
"Siaosi brings a wealth of high-level management and executive oversight and governance experience from various roles," the application said.
Gavet told RNZ a charter school would give more flexibility to better influence curriculum and resources.
"Basically with more freedom to operate within a modern learning environment," he said.
"We would like to reset the narrative, so to speak, and involve the school community as much as we possibly can, by giving them a voice at our advisory board meetings, to name just one example."
He said he respected the school's decision to post its opposition on social media.
The trust has also claimed it had been told a number of teachers supported the bid but "it is not possible to voice their support as these is [sic] seen against the retiring principal".
"We acknowledge that the teaching staff of the school are opposed to conversion, and we have been told (although this may not be true) that a number are seeking positions at other schools. We will not try and persuade those staff to stay," it also said.
The trust said the school's PPTA was opposed to charter schools, but it believed its application "deals with the objections".
Kelston Boys' High School in Auckland. Photo: SUPPLIED/GOOGLE MAPS
'Incredibly unsettling' situation - local MP
Labour MP for Kelston Carmel Sepuloni said the trust had been "hell bent" on trying to convert both Kelston Boys' High School and Kelston Girls' High School.
"It's been done in the most unusual way, in a way where the schools have felt quite threatened, it's been relentless.
"They have had their school community approached, their teachers approached and it's been incredibly unsettling not just for the principals, but the teachers and the students of the schools."
Sepuloni said there was no evidence to support the trust's suggestion some teachers supported the application.
"I was really relieved to see yesterday that the principal, with the support of the board of trustees, has come out publicly.
"Clearly the support that they've received on social media is an indication of where the community is at. They staunchly support Kelston Boys' High School as a state school and are highly opposed to any insinuation that it would be turned into a charter school."
Sepuloni said the coalition should reconsider the charter school system's design to ensure the situation couldn't happen again.
"Is it set up in such a way where you can have these kind of cowboy organisations putting pressure on our state schools?
"This has been a huge distraction. Is the policy set up in such a way where this will continue to be allowed to happen in other parts of New Zealand? I certainly hope that's not the case."
'System designed so that community decides' - Seymour
Associate Education Minister David Seymour said proposals would not make it through the charter school system if they could not meet set requirements.
"We've set up a system where applicants must be part of the school community, clearly explain why their proposal would work, and demonstrate genuine community support. If they can't do that, the proposal will not proceed."
He said the government hadn't endorsed the potential conversion of Kelston Boy's High School, or any application.
"The system is designed so that the school community decides what's best for their students - whether that's a charter school or not. It's up to them and the independent authorisation board's assessment as to whether an application goes ahead."
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